MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Caribou Coffee Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBOU) – the second largest company-owned premium coffeehouse operator in the United States based on the number of coffeehouses – has officially opened the doors to its latest coffeehouse addition to the Minneapolis-area, located in Minnetonka, Minn.

OnFriday, Sept. 28, 2012, Caribou Coffee – which was founded and is headquartered in Minnesota – welcomed the Minnetonka community into its newest coffeehouse, located at 4754 County Road 101. In addition to featuring the warm, friendly neighborhood environment that Caribou is known for and offering best-in-class handcrafted beverages and food products, this location also includes a drive-thru window and outdoor seating.

"We love being a part of the Minnetonka community and are excited to now have the opportunity to provide our fans with drive-thru access and outdoor seating at our new coffeehouse," said Alfredo Martel, senior vice president of marketing and product management. "Caribou continuously looks for ways to innovate, whether that's via our beverages and food items, or the cozy and comfortable environments we offer our fans. We are always looking for ways to provide them with an extraordinary experience."

With all of its new coffeehouses, Caribou looks to pay tribute to the local community with neighborhood-centric décor. So in recognizing that Minnetonka is an active community, where residents enjoy outdoor activities such as biking, running, boating and fishing, Caribou designed the new Minnetonka store to reflect this local sensibility. Guests will be able to enjoy all of their Caribou favorites at the new location, including Rainforest Alliance Certified™ coffees and espresso or delicious food offerings such as Bou Breakfast Sandwiches or Grown-up Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

To celebrate the opening and thank its loyal fans in the Minnetonka community, Caribou is also launching a special mobile "Text-to-Win Sweepstakes" and will reward one winner with free Caribou beverages for the rest of the year. To participate, fans can simply text 7HI to the short code 70626 for a chance to win during the contest period, which runs from Sept. 28, 2012 through Oct. 26, 2012. Caribou will name one sweepstakes winner for the new location and participants must be residents of Minnetonka, Minn. To learn more about this sweepstakes and view the full contest rules, fans can visit: www.cariboucoffee.com/7hi. Fans should also look forward to a special Grand Opening event at the new location on Oct. 26th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT.

About Caribou CoffeeFounded in 1992, Caribou Coffee Company is one of the leading branded coffee companies in the United States, with a compelling multi-channel approach to their customers. Based on the number of coffeehouses, Caribou Coffee is the second largest company-operated premium coffeehouse operator in the United States. As of April 1, 2012, the Company had 585 coffeehouses, including 174 franchised locations, in 21 states, the District of Columbia and nine international markets. The Company's coffeehouses aspire to be the community place loved by guests who are provided an extraordinary experience that makes their day better. Caribou Coffee provides the highest quality handcrafted beverages, foods and coffee lifestyle items with a unique blend of expertise, fun and authentic human connection in a comfortable and welcoming coffeehouse environment. In addition, Caribou Coffee's unique coffees are available within grocery stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, office coffee and foodservice providers, hotels, entertainment venues and e-commerce channels. Caribou Coffee is a proud recipient of the Rainforest Alliance Corporate Green Globe Award and is committed to operating practices that promote sustainability and environmental protection. For more information, visit the Caribou Coffee web site at www.cariboucoffee.com.